Expectations are rising for a stronger U.S. economy in 2014 after reports Thursday showed solid growth in manufacturing and construction spending at the end of last year. More from the AP and see also:

This year’s Floridian of the Year issue includes eight American soldiers from Florida who died serving their country in 2013. Seven died in Afghanistan and one, Justin Kyle Adams, died in South Korea. Read more...

Blue-collar baby boomers unlikely to retire

Many boomers expect to work the rest of their lives because they have little cash put away and they worry Social Security won't cover bills. Some hope to move to jobs that are less physically demanding. [Source: AP]

12 business books you will need to read in 2014

Adam Grant, professor of management at the Wharton School. says that one of the highlights of becoming an author is getting to read some exciting books in advance, and hearing early buzz about others. Here are 12 books with big implications for the world of work that are likely to make a splash in the coming year. [Source: Quartz]

Crisis can strike any company, so plan your response

Contaminated pharmaceuticals. Pipeline ruptures. Defective car seats. Data security breaches. We have all read the headlines about these and other crises that caused serious harm to businesses. No company is immune, but what separates success from failure is how it responds to and manages the crisis. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Judge sides with newspaper in Sunshine Law lawsuit [AP] A judge has sided with The Florida Times-Union in a lawsuit arguing that Jacksonville city officials broke Florida's open-government laws when they held private talks over proposed changes to police and firefighter pensions.

› Envision Alachua Hopes to Bring Advanced Manufacturing to Area[Gainesville Business Report] Plum Creek, Alachua County and the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce hope to attract to the area large, high-tech manufacturers and startups spun out of the University of Florida and downtown Gainesville with job opportunities for high school graduates on up to Ph.D.s.

› Airports, seaports predict healthy passenger traffic in 2014 [South Florida Sun-Sentinel] As 2014 gets underway, officials at South Florida airports and cruise ports are feeling optimistic about its outlook. Fueling their optimism is the lineup of new airline routes launching and the arrival of additional cruise ships, some brand new, all of which is expected to lift business this year.

› State leaders outline 2014 goals for Central Florida [Orlando Sentinel] Senate President-designate Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and House Speaker-designate Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, don't officially take over the Legislature until after the 2014 election. But their influence is growing.

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› UF Health, Orlando Health Partner for New Cancer Program[Gainesville Business Report] The partnership is in response to the rising cancer rate in Florida, as evidenced by recent studies by the National Cancer Institute, which say that Florida has the second-largest cancer burden in the country.

› No hurricane, but still a wild weather year [South Florida Sun-Sentinel] South Florida escaped a hurricane hit in 2013 but was still roughed up by wild weather, including flooding rains, damaging tornadoes and stretches of abnormally hot and cold.